Name: The Freedom Writers Diary
Rating: 4.472222222222222 (18 reviews)

Erin Gruwell

Freedom Writers

A true account of a teacher who confronted a room of "at-risk" students details their life-changing journey and includes diary excerpts

How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them

The Freedom Writers Diary

Zlata Filipovic

Eliza Sorensen

this is a good book but is very repetitive and kinda dark

Marisa Eikenberry

I will admit that I picked up this book because I saw and loved the movie but I will also admit that this book didn't disappoint. 

This book allows you to see what these kids see, their struggles, their triumphs, their failures, and everything in between. It's also amazing to see how this group of underdogs surpasses not only other people's expectations, but even their own. And that isn't just the kids but also Erin Gruwell. 

I loved reading about how these kids gained more confidence in themselves and their experiences in the classroom from their perspective. Their meetings with Zlata, their trip to D.C, their trip to New York, and even their excitement about being able to say they were the first in their family to graduate high school let alone go on to college too.

This is an amazing example of how students can truly soar when they are being taught by an educator that relates to them, cares about them, and inspires them. When they were able to see how the characters in these books were just like them, it made the lessons that much easier to grasp and build upon. 

If you are an educator (and even if you're not), pick up this book. Use Erin's example as a way for you to inspire your own classroom. Even if everyone else thinks they're a "bunch of misfits."

5 Stars.

The Freedom Writers Diary How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them

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